Joshua Overview + Outline
Some people mistakenly believe the book of Joshua is all about Joshua. Nothing could be further from the truth! Let’s dive deep into the book named after Moses’s successor, who led Israel into the rest offered by the Promised Land. As you read, you’ll see how Christ is the greater Joshua!
WHAT TYPE OF BOOK IS THIS? (LAW, HISTORY, POETRY, WISDOM, GOSPEL, EPISTLE, OR PROPHECY)?
Joshua is the first of twelve historical books.
WHO WROTE THIS BOOK? WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR?
The author never names himself throughout the book. However, Joshua is the most likely candidate, for he witnessed everything in this book that came to pass.
Joshua first entered the scene when he fought against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:10-13). From then on, Joshua was a second in command to Moses until God commissioned Joshua to succeed the prophet in Numbers 27:18-23. When Moses sent scouts into the Promised Land, Joshua and Caleb were the only men to say Israel could defeat their enemies. God only allowed these two truthful men to enter the Promised Land when their generation continued grumbling before the Lord.
Later on, Joshua filled Moses' role of leading Israel after his death (Deuteronomy 31:23).
Joshua, son of Nun, means "the Lord is salvation." We can see how this name fits! God commanded Israel to destroy the surrounding enemies, and Joshua did that until he died. Ultimately, Joshua followed the Lord, had a spirit of wisdom, and led God's people into the Promised Land!
WHO IS THE AUDIENCE OF JOSHUA? WHEN IS IT WRITTEN?
The immediate audience would be the Israelites that entered the Promised Land. This book bridged God's declaration for Israel to take the Promised Land with His faithfulness. As a result, Israel entered into the rest God promised!
Most scholars believe Joshua's authorship date is close to 1405-1385 BC.
WHAT IS THE SETTING AND LOCATION OF THIS BOOK?
At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses passed the leadership baton to Joshua. Israel had come to the fortieth year of wandering around 1405 BC. Joshua began leading God's people to drive out most of the Canaanites and divided the Land among the twelve tribes. They were in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, and were in the Land God had promised to their forefathers!
WHAT'S THE GENERAL OUTLINE AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE?
Entering the Promised Land (1:1-5:15)
Conquering the Promised Land (6:1-12:24)
The Central Campaign (6:1-8:35)
The Southern Campaign (9:1-10:43)
The Northern Campaign (11:1-15)
The Summary of Conquests (11:16-12:24)
Distributing Portions of the Promised Land (13:1-22:34)
Instructions (13:1-33)
West of the Jordan (14:1-19:51)
Cities of Refuge (20:1-9)
Cities of the Levites (21:1-45)
East of the Jordan (22:1-34)
Keeping the Promised Land (23:1-24:28)
Joshua's First Speech (23:1-16)
Joshua's Second Speech (24:1-28)
Joshua's Death and Burial (24:29-33)
HOW DOES THIS BOOK FIT INTO THE TIMELINE OF SCRIPTURE? WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE IT? WHAT HAPPENS AFTER IT?
Joshua falls after the book of Deuteronomy but before the book of Judges. In Deuteronomy, God stirred the Israelites to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength in response to God's love toward them. Moses passed away, entrusting Israel's reigns to Joshua. This point in the timeline is where the events in Joshua take place.
After Joshua's death, the Israelites fall into the trap of sinning and becoming enslaved by other nations. The Lord raised several judges to deliver His people when their disobedience worsened.
HOW DID CHRIST FULFILL THE TRUTH FOUND IN JOSHUA?
Jesus is the Greater Joshua! The Lord promised rest to His people by providing the Promised Land. (See Deuteronomy 12:10, 25:19, and Joshua 1:13 for these specific promises.) Though this offered physical rest for the Israelites, this example was a type and shadow of the rest Christ provides believers today.
We know this because Hebrews 3:16-4:1 talks about some of Israel's unbelief preventing them from entering into this rest. Christ's death on the Cross accomplished rest for believers, meaning we no longer have to toil and strive and labor. Christ finished paying for our sins on the Cross! That's why He can offer us the hope of Matthew: "'Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'” The only work we have to do is "Then they said to him, 'What must we do, to be doing the works of God?' Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”' Therefore, all we must do is repent and believe; Christ does the rest! Amen!
KEY VERSES IN JOSHUA
"Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the Land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
JOSHUA 1:6-9
"And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands."
JOSHUA 21:44
"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose Land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
JOSHUA 24:14-15
KEY THEMES IN JOSHUA: REST
God leads His people into rest through His presence, peace, provision, and blessing.
WHERE DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT QUOTE OR REFER TO JOSHUA?
In Stephen's sermon before his stoning, he mentioned Israelite history from Joshua 24:32, which says, "As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money."
Later, in the book of Hebrews, the writer mentions the events at Jericho in a passage known as the Hall of Faith. Hebrews 11:30-31 alludes to the events such as Jericho falling and Rahab's faith. It says, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." These events occur in Joshua 6:20 and 2:1. James 2:25 also refers to Rahab and her faith and works to save Israel's spies!